Car washing quickly became a family business. Tom Petit Jr., was just eight years old when he began working at the family’s car wash. The years went by and as Tom and Rita opened up more car washes, their sons became more involved and very soon their family was fully dedicated to the car wash industry.

Eventually, Tom Jr. grew up and left the cozy car wash nest. He spent the next few years earning a Bachelor’s Degree in aerospace technology, obtaining his Airline Transport Pilot rating, and working as a corporate pilot. As a pilot, he had time to spare between flights. Tom used this time to travel to different car washes and research car wash equipment. He liked the mental challenge. He liked to figure out how everything worked and how to make the best machines better. His boredom gave birth to some really great ideas and he combined these ideas with his aerospace engineering education to invent and innovate Tom Sr.’s car washes. Ideas turned into prototypes, prototypes into patents, and in 1989, the first of Tom Jr.’s eight U.S. Patents were approved. He incorporated Petit Auto Wash and Tom Jr. began manufacturing car wash equipment. 

It’s been fifty years since the Petit family entered the car wash business. They are known for quality, durability, and hyper-advanced car wash equipment, but most of all they’re known for excellence in technology. Petit’s car wash customers are their biggest fans and Petit appreciates how they’ve helped them expand over the years. Their manufacturing facility has grown to include a multi million-dollar inventory and Tom Jr.’s role in the car washing industry has grown as well. In addition to his current job as President of Petit Auto Wash, Inc. Tom Jr. has served as President of the Ohio Car Wash Association and on the International Car Wash Association’s Market Research Committee.

Currently, Tom Jr. and his brother Dennis own and manage more than a dozen car washes in Northeast Ohio. Although the company has grown significantly over the last several decades, Petit continue to operate as a family business. They are very proud of their position in the car wash industry and of their equipment, their company, their employees, and their history. Petit would love to see you become part of it. Are you ready to become part of the Petit Auto Wash family?